Page 37 of The Team

Fuck’s sake.

“What was that about?”

Yin met his gaze then and conceded a nod. “Seems our friends here take issue with other nationalities. Mostly Americans,” Yin said.

Coyote gave Rhett a resigned but still-pissed sigh, then clapped Yin on the arm. “Thanks for having my back, man.”

“No problem,” Yin replied.

“What did you say to him?” Sid asked Yin. “He backed up pretty fucking quick.”

Yin smirked. “I asked him nicely to be friends.”

Coyote snorted. “Yeah, right. Now, I don’t speak Farsi, but I know you damn well didn’t ask him nothin’ nicely.”

Yin shrugged. “It was more of a suggestion.” He then went back to his seat next to Chen and the big guy gave him a nudge with a laugh. Then Yin knocked Jay with the back of his hand. “Five pounds? Is that all you’d bet on me?”

Jay laughed. “No takers, either.”

“I offered ten,” Azrael said. Then she pointed her chin at Sid, Echo, and Chen. “And I noticed none of you guys stood up.”

“Yin had it covered,” Sid said defensively. “He could fuck those guys up in a blink. We saw the footage of him kicking Captain’s ass.”

Rhett sighed, frustrated and annoyed. “He didnotkick my ass. I was holding back so as to not draw attention to myself. Christ.”

Echo laughed. “Whatever you say, Captain.”

“You could have a rematch,” Azrael said, grin wide. “I got ten on Yin.”

Rhett stared at her. What the fuck?

“What about you?” Chen asked, nudging Jay’s knee with his own. “Who you put money on?”

Jay stared at him, wide-eyed, likewhat the fuck. Then he looked up at Rhett and cringed. “I mean, Rhett for sure.”

Everyone laughed, and while Rhett actually loved that his team had bonded to the point where they could mock each other, he also couldn’t believe it.

What the actual hell, Jay?

Rhett ran his hand over his face. “I’m not mad,” he said, acting aloof.

“Just disappointed,” Azrael, Sid, Echo, and Coyote all echoed.

Rhett couldn’t help but smile a little, but when Jay looked up at him, Rhett pointed a quick finger at Yin and mouthed, “Him? Over me?”

Jay shrugged, and when Chen laughed, Jay shoved the big guy. “You threw me under the bus.”

Chen’s smile died. “Bus? What bus?”

Laughter and chatter erupted around the team, and Rhett couldn’t even bring himself to be mad.

This was what he wanted for his team. To have each other’s backs, then to sit around and laugh about it when all was said and done.

Except two of his team were still missing.

“Any word on Kowalski and Myles?” Sid asked, and a quiet fell over their group.

Rhett gave a nod. “They have a location where they believe they might be.”

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